BAVARIAN STYLE TOWN IN GEORGIA!

There is a town in North Georgia that is seriously straight out of a Hallmark or Lifetime movie. And guess what?? There was actually a Lifetime movie filmed (Christmas Love Letter) in the town this past year. It was an adorable love story that showed off the charming town of Helen.

Helen is a mountain town located in the Blue Ridge Mountains with a Bavarian style. All of the buildings follow the Bavarian theme, and it makes for a wonderful weekend away in GA. Each year, we take a mountain trip with our family friends, and we chose Helen for this year’s trip. There was so much to do, but I am going to outline our top four experiences that we did during our time in and around Helen.

4. Walking around the town – We absolutely loved wandering Helen. Main Street has lots to offer and is also very picturesque. There are tons of great restaurants, and since we visited in the fall, we mostly went to loud bars/restaurants that had lots of tv’s showing football including The Troll Tavern, Paul’s Margarita Deck, and Big Daddys Restaurant and Tavern. There is also a nice park, Unicoi Hill Park, with a great playground. Hansel & Gretal Candy Kitchen is a must do if you’re in the mood for a sweet treat. If you are traveling with kids, I also highly recommend jumping on the Alpine Express for a quick train ride around the town.

3. Gem Mining – My girls have started equating our mountain trips with gem mining. It is definitely a family favorite. It’s a fun and quick activity that is offered in many places throughout the town. We purchased a six-pound family bucket at Outpost Gold & Gems, and the four kids went to town. They truly loved finding all kinds of different gems, and they spent hours playing and trying to identify their new treasures.

2. Georgia Mountain Coaster – This coaster is just amazing, and it is the only alpine coaster in Georgia. If you like thrill rides, I would definitely encourage you to try it out! The coaster is on a steel track, and you are pulled up to the top of the mountain. Once at the top, the cart is released and the driver uses the hand brakes to control the speed as you ride down the mountain. To drive, you must be 54″, and there can be up to 2 people (3+ years) in one the cart. The kids loved it so much that they begged to do it again, and I think the adults had just as much fun so of course we agreed.

1. Babyland General Hospital – Who else had a Cabbage Patch doll growing up?? Can you remember their specific scent?? Well, if you did (or if you always wanted one), you need to take your children to Babyland General!

Babyland General is a quick ten-minute drive from Helen. Once you enter, the visitor takes a self-guided tour through the hospital’s different rooms displaying all kinds of Cabbage Patch Kids. In the main room, Mother Cabbage is displayed underneath the branches of the Magic Crystal Tree. Mother Cabbage is pollinated by the Bunnybees, and patch doctors and nurses tend to the Cabbage Patch. Mother Cabbage also gives birth to a Cabbage Patch Kid throughout your time at the hospital. The girls and I loved seeing the birth. After the birth, the nurse takes the Cabbage Patch Kid to the nursery and then brings it out to for the visitors to see.

The girls each picked out a Cabbage Patch baby to match their features. We spent an awful amount of time deciding between which one to get, but it was worth it because they truly love their babies. It was such a special experience to do with the kids, and it reminded me of my childhood. Thank you for wandering along with us.